Ah, pickling... the wonderful food preservation technique that transforms plain old veggies into tart little treasures. And what Sunday morning Bloody Mary isn’t perfected by a garnish of yummy pickled green beans? In this class, Kelly McVicker, founder of McVicker Pickles, guides you in the tasty art of pickling, covering both fermented and “quick” or vinegar-brined pickles. You will learn how to make your own pickles, steps to ensure safety, and tricks for creating the best flavors in your pickled goodies. Each student will leave class with two types of pickled vegetables, plus a list of resources and recipes to ensure that you can repeat this process at home.

We’re taking pickling up a notch in this new class with our pickling maven, Kelly McVicker. We think it’s a damn shame that whiskey’s reputation has been tarnished by its association with the dreaded whiskey d*ck, so were here to defend its honor with...whiskey picks!

That’s right: In this class we will teach you how to make a nice & firm dill pickle, then we’ll booze it up a notch and show you how to incorporate booze into the brine, not only creating amazing flavors but keeping your spirits up and your cheeks warm as you go. Each class will differ based on what’s in season, but expect to learn recipes like Maple-Whiskey Pickles, Bourbon-Pickled Jalapenos (our favorite at workshop- we are ADDICTED) and smoky Porter Pickles using Speakeasy’s Payback Porter beer. Of course, we couldn’t just throw these elixirs into the brine without tasting them first, (RIGHT?) so we’ll sample a few whiskeys as we go and chase ’em down with pickle backs.

You will leave with two jars of goodies and plenty of sampling of whiskey, brines, pickle backs, beers and pickles in class. Expect a super fun class that teaches you the basics of pickling with the added bonus of fine spirits, making for a perfect date night or night out with friends.

Fermentation, y’all! It’s that magical, microbial, mysterious process that transforms raw veggies into flavor-filled delights. Not only is lacto-fermentation an effective way to preserve the harvest, it’s also a time-honored method of increasing the nutritional value of food and adding digestive enzymes to your diet.

In this class you’ll learn the secrets behind lacto-fermentation as you try your hand at making your choice of spicy kimchi or tasty sauerkraut. We’ll also do a fermented pickle recipe using cucumbers or another seasonal veggie. We’ll have all the goods on hand to creative a variety of gourmet home-crafted options to tickle your palate. Take home your custom creation, keep an eye on your ’edible pet,’ and enjoy the flavor in a few weeks. In addition to your jar of tasty goodness, you’ll also leave with some specific recipes and the knowledge and skills to apply lacto-fermenting techniques to just about any fruit or vegetable.